How primary documents make history interesting History Detectives Primary Sources and Research – 4th Grade Students’ research will use the History Detective Form (below) to examine artifacts and primary source documents, making observations about them and generalizing about what they might mean. And how they might be used by historians. The primary source documents are authentic and come from the life of Elizabeth K. Steen, anthropologist and explorer whose life is largely forgotten (this in itself is a good history lesson—about how history is written and the odd quirks that influence what is recorded for future generations). This lesson takes two 50 minute long sessions to accomplish Standards Addressed
4th Grade State Standards
4th Grade Information Literacy Standards
Objectives 1. Students will recognize primary sources and secondary sources and be able to describe the difference.
2. Students will experience how historians conduct their research.
3. Students will have the opportunity to learn collaboratively from their peers as they examine primary sources items in teams.
4. Students will select one primary source and one secondary source to use in their own slide show teaching other students the difference between primary and secondary sources.
5. Students will produce a three slide powerpoint presentation about what they know about primary and secondary sources with illustrations of the two. Using the template. Materials and Resources 1. Letters, artifacts, old photographs, newspaper articles, postcards, and other items which offer clues to about Elizabeth k. Steen’s life.
2. Secondary resources for comparison purposes.
3. White gloves for the junior archivists to touch the aged documents. -- explain
4. Students come equipped with worksheets and pencils
5. Graphic resources provided on the web for students to select from for their slide presentations. Including a template for PowerPoint. Primary Sources
1st Session Procedures:
Students will assemble as the Media Specialist begins the overview PowerPointPrimary Sources (above), and describes the housekeeping aspects of the lesson. Embedded in this lesson is a film from the National Parks Service – Down Mobile Way from 1935 which the Media Specialist will use to work through the Primary/Secondary Resource Inquiry Form (classroom teacher gives this to students at the next meeting) as an example of how it should be used (20 min). The librarian will pause the film at appropriate times to ask students what part of their form this particular section of film fits and how to score it. The classroom teacher will show sample items (History Detective ppt) and leads discussion (15 minutes). Students will use their clickers on the last slide of this show to indicate proficiency at identifying primary and secondary sources before they explore the realia set out on the tables. (3 minutes)
Classroom teacher has students divided into groups of 4 and assigned to a table upon entry into the library. Various resources are set out awaiting inspection. Using the Primary or Secondary Checklist which the classroom teacher has made copies of and provided to students who will examine these sources summarizing what they learned from their source as they fill out the Primary/Secondary Inquiry Form. (12 minutes to explore at their table and fill out their form)
2nd Session Students needn’t bring anything to the session. They will go to the computers immediately and follow the instructions on the screen….as they Media Specialist leads them through and the teacher walks among them assisting as needed.
Primary or Secondary
Go to the Westmeade Homepage and click on Class Links/4th Grade/Computers/ Make a Powerpoint slide and do the lessons listed. Students should do these before they come to the library for the second session.
Quick review of students working definition of primary sources.
Quick check to be sure they understand the difference.
Begin instruction in using the PowerPoint template.
4. Show students where to find the graphics for them to insert into their PowerPoint Rubric for Primary Souces
History Detectives Primary Sources and Research – 4th Grade
Students’ research will use the History Detective Form (below) to examine artifacts and primary source documents, making observations about them and generalizing about what they might mean. And how they might be used by historians. The primary source documents are authentic and come from the life of Elizabeth K. Steen, anthropologist and explorer whose life is largely forgotten (this in itself is a good history lesson—about how history is written and the odd quirks that influence what is recorded for future generations). This lesson takes two 50 minute long sessions to accomplish
Standards Addressed
1. Students will recognize primary sources and secondary sources and be able to describe the difference.
2. Students will experience how historians conduct their research.
3. Students will have the opportunity to learn collaboratively from their peers as they examine primary sources items in teams.
4. Students will select one primary source and one secondary source to use in their own slide show teaching other students the difference between primary and secondary sources.
5. Students will produce a three slide powerpoint presentation about what they know about primary and secondary sources with illustrations of the two. Using the template.
Materials and Resources
1. Letters, artifacts, old photographs, newspaper articles, postcards, and other items which offer clues to about Elizabeth k. Steen’s life.
2. Secondary resources for comparison purposes.
3. White gloves for the junior archivists to touch the aged documents. -- explain
4. Students come equipped with worksheets and pencils
5. Graphic resources provided on the web for students to select from for their slide presentations. Including a template for PowerPoint.
Primary Sources
1st Session
Procedures:
Students will assemble as the Media Specialist begins the overview PowerPoint Primary Sources (above), and describes the housekeeping aspects of the lesson. Embedded in this lesson is a film from the National Parks Service – Down Mobile Way from 1935 which the Media Specialist will use to work through the Primary/Secondary Resource Inquiry Form (classroom teacher gives this to students at the next meeting) as an example of how it should be used (20 min). The librarian will pause the film at appropriate times to ask students what part of their form this particular section of film fits and how to score it. The classroom teacher will show sample items (History Detective ppt) and leads discussion (15 minutes). Students will use their clickers on the last slide of this show to indicate proficiency at identifying primary and secondary sources before they explore the realia set out on the tables. (3 minutes)
Classroom teacher has students divided into groups of 4 and assigned to a table upon entry into the library. Various resources are set out awaiting inspection. Using the Primary or Secondary Checklist which the classroom teacher has made copies of and provided to students who will examine these sources summarizing what they learned from their source as they fill out the Primary/Secondary Inquiry Form. (12 minutes to explore at their table and fill out their form)
2nd Session
Students needn’t bring anything to the session. They will go to the computers immediately and follow the instructions on the screen….as they Media Specialist leads them through and the teacher walks among them assisting as needed.
Primary or Secondary
Go to the Westmeade Homepage and click on Class Links/4th Grade/Computers/ Make a Powerpoint slide and do the lessons listed. Students should do these before they come to the library for the second session.
- Quick review of students working definition of primary sources.
- Quick check to be sure they understand the difference.
- Begin instruction in using the PowerPoint template.
4. Show students where to find the graphics for them to insert into their PowerPointRubric for Primary Souces